Arts & Entertainment

February 19, 2015

Ceramists cook fresh, wet clay in kiln ovens that harden and color art pieces into their final forms.

“Each project you do, you have all the freedom possible to create anything, but almost every ceramic piece is fired in a kiln,” said Matt Hennis, Sierra Nevada College ceramics student.

A kiln yard is needed at SNC’s Holman Arts and Media Center building. In total, $100,000 is needed for funding the kiln yard project. A dollar-for-dollar match of all donations from the Holman family will be accounted for as well. A Kickstarter campaign created by SNC professors Rick Parsons, Sheri Leigh O’Connor and a few ceramics students to raise money for the kiln yard exceeded its goal of $20,000 on Feb. 5, 2014, with a total of $20,857.

In order to prevent deterioration to SNC’s four kilns, a weather permitting housing unit constructed adjacent to the Holman building is essential. A Kickstarter page proved to be a profitable gamble.

“If you don’t raise the goal you placed on Kickstarter, then you don’t get the funding,” said O’Connor. “We’re super excited about getting funded.”

Depending on the amount a donor pledged to the project, rewards were given back in exchange for donations. For example, a donor pledging $3 would receive an O’Connor designed bumper sticker reading, “Fire Pots Not Guns.” A donor pledging $100 or more would receive a handmade ceramic basket made by Parsons.

“We’re extremely grateful to all the people that donated,” O’Connor said.

Featured on the Kickstarter page is a video created by SNC alumna Katy Jensen. Humorously, the video explores the potential disasters of deteriorating kilns. In the video, the inability to vitrify clay with a kiln caused emotional reactions by some ceramic students.

“I noticed that a lot of videos on Kickstarter were serious and people would lose interest,” Jensen said. “Our goal was to make it funny to be more appealing.”

The Fine Arts department hosts summer, weekend and community ceramic workshops year-round. Its positive reputation draws Tahoe locals and tourists into SNC’s studios. The kiln yard will aid more than just students.

“A lot of the reputation has been earned by our summer workshop programs, which have hosted big-name ceramists for 30 years,” O’Connor said. “Originally, SNC was known as the pottery school up on the hill when it was at the old mountain campus on College Drive.”

The kiln yard structure has been designed, approved and permitted. Construction is planned to break ground in May, depending on funding. Donations can still be made directly to Sheri O’Connor.

February 18, 2015

This semester the Fine Arts Department here at Sierra Nevada College will be showcasing work of student and professional artists. There are four gallery spaces on campus to showcase these artists. They are located on the first floor of the Holman Media and Arts Center in the Garage Door Gallery as well as the second floor in the Community Space and in the Prim Library on the third floor of the Prim Library in the Tahoe Gallery and Reference Gallery. This is to showcase artistic talent from the school and community.

“We envision that this Center will be the new artistic and intellectual hub not just for Sierra Nevada College but for Incline Village and the Lake Tahoe basin.” Said Trustee Robin Holman

Our new Fine Arts building is without a doubt turning into this. Currently open is the exhibit “Embodied Place: Observations and Notations” in the Garage Door Gallery and in the Tahoe Gallery. Exhibits typically stay up a couple weeks, get taken down and replaced with a new exhibit. Each showcase starts with a gallery opening in the space where there is an artist talk, food, drinks and socialization with faculty, staff, students and local community members.

“I really enjoy going to the gallery openings at SNC. I like looking at the art and talking to people. The artists are always interesting and I always see an old friend.” Said Kasandra Dolan a Tahoe resident

The openings are official events that provide an eclectic mix of people and opinions.

“We have our annual Community Show join up in March (Community College and High School students from around California and Nevada + some participants from outside of that area) along with five BFA students this semester and the always exciting JAPR Midway Review.” Said Carly Petrie

These are some shows that differ slightly from the BFA showcases, but are still artist showcasing’s.

“I am honestly most excited to see the student work that goes up in the galleries.” Said Carly Petrie

The exhibits contain student work from BFA majors here at SNC. They contain work of all artistic mediums. With four permanent gallery locations on campus the Fine Arts Department faculty and students have a lot of opportunity for events and exposure.

February 18, 2015

CORBIN USINGER / EAGLE’S EYE

Mark Maynard will be speaking at Writer’s in the Woods March 6-7. Grind showcases the unique stories found in Reno.

By Dominick Montelaro

The “Biggest Little City in the World,” better known as Reno, is recognized for the way its urban and rural cultures collide. In 2012, Mark Maynard, an Incline Village native, published a set of short stories based in Reno called Grind that paints a unique picture of the city.

March 6-7, Maynard will be at Sierra Nevada College as part of Writers in the Woods, sharing his work and creative process.

“Reno is a place I grew up near, and a place I returned to after a good deal of time away. I am familiar with the city, its foibles and its promise, its thoroughfares and its back alleys. The city itself is a character, rebellious and iconoclastic, it draws like-minded individuals. In Reno, characters and events that would be implausible elsewhere are at home. I meet them every day, and I want to tell their stories,” said Maynard.

Along with writing his book, Maynard is also the Fiction Editor of the The Meadow, and teaches Composition, Fiction and Creative Writing at Truckee Meadows Community College and SNC. Students and the public can attend Writers in the Woods and hear work from distinguished authors.

“Mark is my teacher for American Literature of the West and it is super interesting. He has already taught me so much about how stories are constructed, so to be able to see him read his stories, I am really excited about that,” said Junior Nick Fabris.

In the Reno News and Review, Editor Brian Burghart wrote, “Grind is exactly what I like in a locally based book. Lots of stories about the gritty realism in and around Reno. Plenty of those characters who make a visit to the environs of Reno both an exciting potential and an illicit affair.”

Writers in the Woods events are held in the Tahoe Center for Environmental Studies (TCES) Room 139. Readings are held on Friday evenings from 7-9 p.m. and are open to the public. Workshops are the following morning from 9 a.m.-noon and are free to students and $50 for community members.

“As an English major, I am blessed to be around all these published writers and it’s also very cool for anyone that is into science or business because you get to dabble in different areas and get a credit for it,” said Fabris.

February 18, 2015

On Feb. 28, Sierra Nevada College will hold an event to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The event will be held from 3-7p.m. at Patterson Hall. At the event, there will be Chinese-style dancing, food, crafts, and possibly more.

This is the first time that this specific event will be held at SNC, however, it is not the first time that the college has held an event of the type.

According to Will Hoida, Dean of Students, the college has held at least one similar event in the past.

“There was a similar event about five years ago held on campus called the Multi-Cultural Festival”, Hoida said.

According to Hoida, roughly 100 people are estimated to attend the celebration.

Hoida has contributed to the event himself.

“I help the Asian Cultural Forum Club with the on campus event process and answered questions they had about how to hold a large event on campus. I like to help our students plan and implement great events for both the campus and the community.” Hoida said.

SNC hopes to expand its cultural knowledge with the event.

“I think the event with effect SNC in a positive way. Hopefully get our name more out into the community and showcase what amazing students we have her at the college. I believe this event will expand out cultural knowledge. We have never really had an event like this before. I’m really excited for all the students and community, coming together to celebrate and embrace a different cultural. I think it’s much needed and hopefully it continues annually”, said SNC Senior Marina McCoy.

At least one other SNC student agrees.

“Yes, I could only imagine it would expand SNC’S cultural knowledge”, said Sherilyn Lagambo, an SNC transfer student.

February 18, 2015

February 5, 2015

Cathy Linh Che, winner of the Kundiman Poetry Prize, which is dedicated to publishing exceptional work by Asian American poets, read some of her poems, as well as poems written by others at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29 at Sierra Nevada College.

The audience was very attentive throughout the show.

Che is an American–Vietnamese poet raised in Los Angeles, California, and Long Beach, California. She divides her time between Brooklyn, New York and Long Beach, California. She has had quite an experience with poetry, receiving her Bachelor of Arts from Reed College and her Master of Fine Arts from New York University. She has been awarded several fellowships and residencies including The Fine Arts Work Center at Provincetown, Kundiman, Hedgebrook, Poets House, The Asian American Literary Review, The Center for Book Arts, The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Workspace Residency and a Jerome Foundation Travel Grant.

February 5, 2015

Tired of eating the same food from the same area restaurants? Incline has had more restaurants closing for business than opening within the past couple years. With nightlife here in Tahoe being a little less than stimulating, these new businesses provide something to eat or drink for everyone. “I would describe the restaurant scene in Incline as none” said an Incline Village local.

In the past couple of months there has been a boom of new business openings here in Incline Village. This means new food, entertainment, and employment opportunities for the area. There is a new brewery, BBQ joint, and sushi restaurant. Each of these restaurants caters to a different array of taste buds.

February 5, 2015

Writers in the Woods will feature poet Saeed Jones on at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in Room 139 of Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences. The award-winning poet will hold a workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 7. The Friday night reading is free and the Saturday workshop is $50.

November 20, 2014

BY RICK CONWAY

Contributor

Bite is an ambitious modern restaurant-bar, especially in small, rustic feeling, Incline Village. The atmosphere has a contemporary, stylish twist with woody, naturistic undertones. Modern Jazz music greets customers at the door. The fare is served artfully on small square platters. Portion sizes are equally small. The best way to enjoy Bite is to order a handful of entrees and try a little of each. You may have to order twice if you really like something. Everything goes well with sides like sweet potato fries and your waiter will happily increase the portion size if asked …for an extra fee of course. This can get expensive as entrees run from $8 to $19 and it is not the place to go if you have an exceptionally large appetite.

You can’t go wrong with ribs, or fish tacos, but the sliders are the real standout, and standby, “no frills” dish. Filet mignon bites are a great dish to share and they give you enough steak to fill a teacup poodle -almost. Dogs are not allowed to dine inside.

Choice sides include stuffed mushrooms, calamari and sweet potato fries. The cheese plate is as delightful as can be found anywhere in 100 miles, and the Point Rey’s blue cheese wrapped dates are a mouthful of flavor. The menu rotates often and new additions are hardly ever a letdown.

The wine list should prove satisfactory for all but the most obnoxious snobs, and innovative mixed drinks are always fresh and tasty, with only premium liquors, and fresh fruit and herb garnish. There is something particularly special about the bloody mary which bursts in the mouth like a ripe tomato, though the bar remains tight lipped of the secret mix.

To end the night, try the flourless chocolate cake, a bittersweet chocolate mousse with hazelnut brittle.The warm apple turnover bites are also an excellent choice. The wait staff is always fresh looking, spritely, and greets the guests, with nimble grace. They’re all skiers. Practically all the waitstaff in Tahoe area are ski bums, but the ones at Bite have class and style. No boozy, un-kept, lift ticket clippers here.

When planning a visit, book well ahead, as Bite is one of the more crowded restaurants in town, even on weekdays. Remember Bite is a dinner only venue, open 5pm to 9pm on weekdays and 5pm to 10pm on weekends. But don’t come on Wednesdays; it is the staff’s ski day.

November 20, 2014

BY Meghan tebow

Contributor

The self-proclaimed “first noodle house” in South Lake Tahoe hardly catches the eye as you travel down State Route 50 through the center of town. Yama Noodle may not look like much from the outside, residing in the same run-down complex as a used book store and a purveyor of pirate accessories, however it boasts the most gut-warming hearty bowl of noodles to be found in the Tahoe area.

Enter into the noodle house and you will immediately notice Chinese dragons hanging from the ceiling, and a mosaic wall of old movie posters, many featuring Godzilla and other heartless monsters endemic to Japanese cinema. The menu, while offering more than just your average bowl of noodles, keeps things succinct with only one page of culinary options to choose from.

All noodles are made in house, from scratch, and include different varieties such as Udon, ramen, and rice. The Emerald ramen is a vegetarian option made with tofu, assorted vegetables, and a green curry broth, and is one of the establishment’s most popular menu items. For those who dine more carnivorously, the Yama ramen includes braised pork and egg in a rich pork broth, and commonly gets rave reviews from diners.

In the heat of the summer, a hot bowl of noodle soup might not be your cup of tea. Yama Noodle also boasts a selection of Banh Mi, a style of sandwich gaining popularity in the United States with Vietnamese origins. They also offer several different appetizers including a refreshing green papaya salad and a cold soba noodle toss made with fresh vegetables and a vinegar based dressing. Childrens’ options include stir fry, a simple udon soup, and appetizer style poppers.

If that weren’t enough to draw fans of Asian cuisine in, Yama Noodle also offers boba tea, a sweet milk based drink that boasts a wide straw for sucking up tapioca bubbles at the bottom of your drink. Kung fu movies from the 1960s and 70s play constantly on the restaurant’s two television screens. With awkward subtitles and the likes of Bruce Lee and Godzilla staring you down as you eat delicious food, it is difficult to pass up a stop at this tiny noodle house when venturing down to the southern end of the lake.